Coin handling mechanism



y 1944. F. A. MARCHIONI ET AL 2,352,846

COIN HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 24, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS: FRHNK H. Mfl/PCH/ON/ MHRK E. MHECH/ON/ y 1944- F. A..MARCHlONl ET AL 2,352,846

COIN HANDLING MECHANISM 3 Sheets-Sheet Original Filed Aug. 24, 1938 y1944. F. A. MARCHlONl ET AL 2,352,846

COIN HANDLING MECHANISM Original Filed Aug. 24, 1938 5 Sheets-Sheet 5INVENTORS: FEHNK H. MHPCH/ON/ B MHRK E MHECH/ON/ Patented July 4, 1944COIN HANDLING MECHANISM Frank A. Marchioni and Mark E. Marchioni,Rutherford, N. J.

Original application August 24, 1938, Serial No. 226,558. Divided andthis application May 28, 1942, Serial No. 444,824

6 Claims.

This application is a division of application Serial No. 226,558, filedAugust 24, 1938.

This invention relates to coin mechanisms and in particular to a typefor use in stores, restaurants and shops wherein coins of variousdenominations are dropped into the mechanism by the customer, directly,and the coins actuate the mechanism to register the number of units ofcoins or total Value thereof.

A particular object of the invention is to provide a coin receptacle foruse with a sight member in which coins are lodged for inspection afterpassing through the counting or registering mechanism. It is essentialin mechanisms of this character, where they are disposed on the edges ofcounters, that they be compact, have few parts, so that they will notget out of order easily and are tamper proof.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a coin mechanismin two separable units, so that the registering mechanism or unit can belocated at a distance from the coin unit and can be placed beneath acounter, in the cashiers cage or at any remote point from the coin unit.

The coin unit actuates the coinregistering unit and is so constructedthat it can be attached to the top of the coin receptacles already inuse so that the coins can pass through the coin unit and drop down intothe coin sighting receptacle from whence, after being released by thecounter attendant, they drop into suitable locked boxes under thecounter.

A still further object of the invention is to provide in a mechanism ofthe character referred to, a minimum amount of mechanism for doing thework electrically, that is, for receiving the coin, closing the propercircuit to register the coin in a unit register or in a dollars andcents register, then operating a pusher for ejecting the coin from thecoin unit and causing it to fall into the sight receptacle, all withoutattention on the part of the counter attendant who merely checks theamount of the coins and their genuineness.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a multiple actionunit which will operate to register in a single counter, a plurality ofcoins of different denominations depending upon the operation of aselected solenoid that is energized by the deposited, coin.

With these and other objects in view, the invention comprises certainconstructions hereinafter described and then particularly pointed out inthe claims, preferred embodiments of our invention being illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a view in front elevation of the combined coin units mountedon a sight coin receptacle as commonly employed on the edges ofcounters, in shops,

Figure 2 is a View in side elevation of the combined coin units asillustrated in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a view in front elevation of the coin unit minus its housingand showing the details of construction,

Figure 4 is a view in side elevation, of "the coin unit as illustratedin Figure 3, the coin pusher and operating means being shown,

Figure 5 is a diagrammatic view of both the coin unit and a singleregistering unit showing the wiring arrangements necessary in actuatingthe units in proper synchronism,

Figure 6 is a view in front elevation of th com registering mechanismunit minu the housing therefore, the View illustrating the solenoidarrangement,

Figure 7 is a partial view in side elevation, of the registering unit,parts being broken away to disclose the interior construction,

Figure 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the switch employed in theregistering unit to operate with all registering operations of the unit,

Figure 9 is an enlarged section taken on the line 9-9 of Figure 6showing the registering mechansm in detail,

Figure 10 is a section on the line Iii-l0 of Fi ure 4 showing a detailof the coin mechanism, and

Figures 10A, 10B and are face views of the plates used in the coin unit.

Referring to the drawings in detail, 10 indicates a counter as employedin shops and upon which may be mounted, a coin receptacle I I having asight opening or window 12 through which the attendant can detectspurious coins before actuating the lever l3 to partly revolve a coindetent inside receptacle H to drop the coins into a locked box or otherreceiver l4 beneath the counter. The construction and operation of thecoin receptacle is Well known and it is the purpose of our invention toadapt to this coin receptacle, a coin unit, which, coacting with aregistering mechanism unit will register each coin deposited and willcarry a register of the total coins passing through any unit in thestore. While the drawings show the use of one coin unit with oneregistering unit, it is to be understood that a plurality of coin unitscould be employed with a single registering mechanism or unit. Theregistering unit as illustrated in Figures 5 to 9 inclusive renders thetotal in terms of single units,

so that coins or tokens may be employed. As an example, a nickel wouldbe one unit, a dime two units and a quarter five units.

The coin unit is denoted by the numeral l and comprises the housing i5which encases the coin unit mechanism l1 illustrated in Figures 3 and 4.This unit consists of a base plate or support plate l8, preferably ofmetal for structural rigidity, a depending portion IQ of which issuitably secured to the upper edge of the coin receptacle so that a coinpassage in the unit I5 is in vertical alignment with a coin passage 2|in the receptacle II. For convenience of construction, three layers ofdielectric material such as Bakelite or hard rubber are employed and aremounted on plate l8 by tabs 22 and screws 22A extending from plate l8.The layers of dielectric material are denoted as a front layer 23, (Fig.10A) a middle layer 24 (Fig. 105) and a rear layer 25 (Fig. 100). Therear layer 25 and front layer 23 are each provided with a slot 26 whichregisters with a vertical slot 27 in plate H3. The rear layer 25 isprovided with side cut outs 2B and 23. The middle layer is shaped toprovide a side opening 30 corresponding to 28, and a vertical edge 3|which constitutes one side of a tapered coin passage 20 in which aresuitably embedded the metal contacts 32, 33, 34, and 35. The middlelayer 24 is completed by a corner piece 36, whose inner edge 31constitutes one side of the upper end of the coin passage 25]. This coinpassage is completed by a swinging contact arm 38, whose inner obliqueedge 39 forms the opposite side of the coin passage from that sidecarrying the metal contacts. The arm 38 is pivoted as at 4!] to the rearlayer or plate 25 and is normally maintained in contact with an edge 4|in the front layer 23 by a spring 42, one end of which is secured to theplate It! and the other end to a dog arm 43 of a lever or arm 38.

The dog arm 43 is provided with a dog 44 which engages the teeth of aratchet pinion journalled in the plate IS. The ratchet pinion 45 isactuated by a pawl 46, releasably held in engagement with the pinion 45by a spring 41 and pivoted to lever 43 which extends beneath the coinpusher or clearing lever 68 to be hereinafter referred to. The lever 48is yieldably held by spring 48A in raised position against the loweredge of a bracket |8A whose projection |8B acts as a stop for theclearing lever 65, which is also urged upwardly by the lever 48.

The radial distance of the dog 44 from its center of rotation is greaterthan the radius of the pinion 45. As the pinion 45 is rotated by thedownward swing of lever 48, the dog 44 against the resistance of spring42, is carried with, but out of, the teeth of the pinion 45 near the endof the stroke of the lever 48 and snaps back into the next tooth of thepinion to effectively lock the arm 33 in coin passage forming positionas illustrated in Figure 3. The front layer 23 is cut out to form theedge 4| against which the arm 38 rests. The arm 38, in some portionextends beneath the front layer 23, and carries spring switch blades 49,one of which contacts the spring switch blade 50 when lever or arm 38 isat rest. The contacts 32 to 35 inclusive as well as the members 38, 49and 53 are included in an electric circuit which will be laterexplained.

The coin C as shown in outline in Figure 3 is a five cent piece andmakes a circuit between the arm 38 and the contact 33 by bridging thecontact and the oblique edge of the arm 38,

the edge of the arm being indicated as at 39. The obliquely disposededge of the arm 33 when the arm is at rest, forms with the contactholding wall, a coin passage that tapers so that a coin dropped into thepassage will bridge any of the contacts in accordance with the diameterof the coin and complete a circuit in which is involved a coinregistering mechanism or unit will be now described.

A five cent piece, or token of like size, coacts with contact 33 tooperate a solenoid I to record one unit. A twenty-five cent piece coactswith contact 32 to operate solenoid 5 to record five units and a tencent piece coacts with contact 35 to actuate solenoid 2 to record twounits. A penny, as will be later explained, will not be registered, butwill coact with contact 34 to actuate the pusher or clearing leversolenoid P.

The registering unit consists of a housing 5| which can be situatedremotely from the coin unit as under a counter, in the cashiers cage orany place desired. The housing encases the frame 52 having end walls 53and a connecting panel 54, upon one side of which is mounted thesolenoids l, 2 and 5. The solenoids designate the respective number ofcoin units they will register in the mechanism and solenoid will operatethe mechanism to register one unit, solenoid 2, two units and solenoid5, five units. A suitable electric circuit, referred to as the registercircuit includes the solenoids 2 and 5 and an associated circuitreferred to as the pusher circuit includes a solenoid P which actuatesthe coin pusher or clearing lever (ill. The solenoid. P is mounted inframe 55 attached to plate I8 and the core 56 of said solenoid P isextended as at 51 with a bifurcated yoke 58 connected by pin and slotassociation as at 59 to a coin pusher or clearing lever 69. The lever 60is pivoted as at MA in a part of frame 55 and is channeled to hold a tipSI of dielectric material which passes downwardly through the slot 25 inthe coin unit to force the coin out of the coin passage in the coin unitand into the sight receptacle when the pusher or clearing lever isactuated by energization of the solenoid coil P.

The frame 52 of the registering unit has journalled in the end walls 53thereof, the register shaft 62, support shaft 63 and stud shaft 84, thelatter of which has pivoted thereto the detent arm 65 which engages theteeth of a detent gear 66 secured to, and arranged to revolve with, theregister shaft The register shaft 62 passes through the register 61, theunit adding dials of which total the number of coin units passingthrough the coin mechanism. The register Bl is mounted on the panel 54on the rear of which the solenoids 2 and 5 are mounted so that theirrespective cores 68, G3 and i0 pass through the panel.

The solenoid I which registers one unit has its core 68 pivoted as at Hto the upper part of a stop lever 12 which is journalled on the rockshaft 63 so that it swings under the influence of the solenoid andbrings an integral stop plate 13 into contact with a detent or stopwheel 14 fixed to the register shaft 62 to prevent rotation of thelatter when it has made sufficient rotary movement to register one unitin the counter or register 67. The register shaft 82 is actuated by agear 15 having fixed thereto the throw arm 76 carrying a pawl 11 whichoperates a ratchet wheel 18 which is fixed to and rotates the shaft 62depending on the rotary movement that is imparted to said gear 15.

: The gear I5 is free to rotate on shaft 62 and is in mesh and isactuated by a segment rack I9 which is journalled on the rock shaft 63and is pivotally connected as at 86 to the core I of solenoid 5. Thestop plate I3 has a tab or lug 8| extending therefrom and overlying theedge of the rack I9, so that when solenoid I is energized, it will drawlever I2 in a swinging movement to the right, against the resistance ofspring 82 to cause lug 8| to swing the segment rack 19 to the right torevolve the register shaft 62, until stop plate I3 moves into contactwith the next tooth of the detent wheel I4, thus effectively moving theregister one unit only. The detention of the counter mechanism at thefinish of a registering stroke is further facilitated by the detent arm65 and gear 66 previously referred to.

At the top of the frame, a switch 83 is provided having the blades 84and 85 thereof normally separated to keep a circuit open. These bladesare disposed in the path of a stud 86 of dielectric material mounted onthe upper endof stop lever I2 so that every time the. lever 12 swings itcloses the switch whether or not said lever I2 is actuated by thesolenoid I.

The segment rack 19 is pivoted to the core of solenoid 5 by a pin 80whose extended head 81 is disposed in a slot 88 of a U-shaped or yokelever 89, the legs 90 and 9I of which are journalled on the supportshaft 63 so thatthe lever 89 can swing thereon under the influence ofthe solenoid 2 to which the leg 9I of lever 89 is pivoted as at 92. Theother leg 90 has an overturned lip 93 at its upper end which overlies,and is spaced from, the tab 8| of stop lever I2, and a rack engaging lip94 below said lip 93 for engagement with the rack segment I9. The spring82 through the tab SI and lip 93 will normally cause the lever 89 toyieldably resist the action of solenoid 2. The spring 95 yieldablyresists the operation of the rack I9 by solenoid 5. This tendency of thesprings 82 and 95 to .throw the parts to the left or away from thesolenoids is resisted by a stop 96 overlying the leg 90 of yoke lever89, the stop being mounted on panel 54.

register shaft is illustrated in Figure 9. Throw of lever I2 under theinfluence of solenoid I will cause lug 8| to swing the rack 19 torevolve gear 75, detent wheel "I4 and ratchet wheel I8 until the edge ofstop plate I3 arrests the movement of detent wheel 14 by engagement withthe next adjacent tooth, thereby allowing the register to show one unitregistered. Operation of solenoid 2 in actuating lever 89, will, throughlip 93, operate the rack I9 as before until said lip 93 on lever 89comes into contact with and operates stop plate I3 through contact withlug BI. This free movement of lip 93 before it meets the tab or lug 3|will allow rotation of the gears set forth until a two unit registry iscompleted, at which time the stop plate will engage the proper tooth ofdetent Wheel I4 to provide an accurate registry of two units. The pinand slot connection of rack I9 and lever 89 allows the former to operateindependently of the latter. E nergization of the solenoid 5 will swingthe rack alone until the pin 81 engages the inner end of the slot inlever 89 and then the pin will swing the lever 89 to cause the lip 93thereon to actuate the stop plate I3 to arrest the movement of thedetent wheel I4 to acclear the coin slot.

to H3.

curately register five units in the registry mechanism.

Referring to Figure 5, wherein an electric circuit arrangement is shownin connection with our mechanism, the coin unit I5 has a multiplecircuit plug H6, the pins II6A of which only canfit in one position inthe multiple circuit socket H5 to correctly complete the circuitsjoining the coin unit and the register unit. When the units areelectrically joined, power from a sourcedenoted by plug H3 is carried byline I to switch 50 to arm 38. A coin C, of any denomination, may bridgethe gap between said arm 38 and any contact 32, 33, 34 or 35. Assuming aten cent piece is deposited, it will engage arm 38 and contact 35.Current from source H3, through line I86, I00, arm 38, coin C, contact35, line I09, solenoid 2, line I08, and line I82 will complete a circuitto operate solenoid 2, which causes stud 86 to close the switch 83.Closing of switch 83 completes a circuit from I I3, through I06, I07,pusher or clearing solenoid P, line I98, I02 to source H3. Actuation ofthe solenoid P moves the coin clear of the contact 35 and at the sametime swings the arm 38 to break the coin controlled circuit by operatingswitch 50, so that the coin being cleared from the coin unit by beingpushed down, will not register as it passes the lower contacts. Thelower end of arm 39, in moving now contacts switch I33 and a circuit iscompleted from H3, through I06, I60, I83, I05 to pusher solenoid P,through I88 and I82 to source H3. The solenoid P thus continues thevpushing operation to It will be noted that when switch 83 is closed, itenergizes solenoid P whose operation moves the coin to break theregistering circuit of solenoid 2 and cause switch 83 to open again. Theline I06, I60 supplies current to switch 56, arm 38, through :05 (whenswitch I63 is engaged by the swinging movement of arm 38) to solenoid P.

A one cent piece contacts 34, closes circuit from H3, through I08, I90,59, 38, coin, 34, line III to solenoid P, I08 and I92 to H3. Noregistering of a one cent piece is made. It is pushed through the coinslot by the action of the pusher solenoid and clearing lever. A fivecent coin C contacting 33 closes circuit from H3, through I06, I00, 50,33, coin C, 33, line lz'lI, solenoid I, line I08, I02 A twenty-five centpiece contacts 32, closing circuit from H3, through I06, I00, 50, 38,coin, 32, H6, solenoid 5, I03, I62 to H3. Operation of switch 83 andsolenoid P is the same for the five and twenty-five cent coins asdescribed for the ten cent coin.

As a coin is pushed out of the coin passage, the arm 38 is moved, but isreturned to its normal coin slot forming position by the spring 42, asshown in Figure 3, with the result that the circuit of solenoid P isbroken by separation of the switch 39 and switch I93 and the coincircuit through the arm is ready to be completed upon insertion of acoin that will bridge the arm 38 and a contact.

It is evident that the coin unit can be made to accommodate fifty centpieces or a larger number of tokens than illustrated by extending thecontact carrying wall and the arm 38.

The units, that is the coin unit and the register units are separatedevices which may be combined with each other or may be employedseparately, and the wires providing the circuits terminate in separableplug parts H5 and H6, the latter of which is provided with the pins II6Aof unequal diameter so that the parts can only be combined in the propermanner to complete the various circuits employed. The reason for havingthe units separated is that in a busy restaurant or shop, when one partof the device may break down, it can be immediately removed and anotherunit installed without loss of time. Also, extension of the connectingwires between the units permits the placing of them as far apart asdesired,

It is evident therefore that we have provided a compact, multi-unit coinregistering device which permits automatic registry of coins as they areinserted into an inspection receptacle, so that the attendant is notobliged to total the money taken in at the various stations in the storeand so that coins, after registry, are made available for use in makingchange, immediately, Without the necessity of checking each station.

It is to be understood that our invention is not to be restricted to theprecise details of construction shown since various alterations may bemade therein without departing from the scope of the invention orsacrificing the advantages derived from its use.

What we claim is:

1. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including amovable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage forcoins through the unit, the opposite edge of said passage being straightand vertically spaced contact members disposed in said straight edge,the oblique edge of said arm coacting with any of said contacts to forma seat for a circuit completing coin lodged between said arm and acontact and means including a passage clearing lever for moving said armto enlarge the coin passage to permit release of the coin.

2. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including amovable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage forcoins through the unit, the opposite edge of said passage being straightand vertically spaced contact members disposed in said straight edge,the oblique edge of said arm coacting with i any of said contacts toform a seat for a circuit completing coin lodged between said arm and acontact and means in said coin completed circuit for moving said arm toenlarge the coin passage to permit release of the coin and break of saidcircuit, and a switch on the arm adapted to be closed by movement of thearm to shunt said coin circuit through said arm moving means.

3. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including amovable arm prezii senting an oblique edge forming one side of a passagefor coins through said unit, the opposite edge of the passage beingstraight and presenting vertically spaced contacts, the oblique edge ofthe arm coacting with any of said contacts to form a seat for a circuitcompleting coin lodged between said arm and a contact, a pusher foradvancing a coin through the passage and means actuated by said pusherfor swinging said arm to enlarge the passage.

4. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including amovable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage forcoins through the unit, the opposite edge of the passage being straightand presenting vertically spaced contacts to form a seat for a solenoidcircuit completing coin lodged between said arm and a contact, a pusherfor advancing the coin through the passage to break said circuit meansactuated by said pusher for swinging said arm to enlarge the passage,and a switch operated by said arm for restoring said solenoid circuit.

5. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including amovable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage forcoins through said unit, the opposite edge of the passage being straightand presenting vertically spaced contacts to form a, seat for a registerand solenoid circuit completing coin lodged between said arm and acontact, a pusher for advancing a coin through the passage to break saidregister and solenoid circuit, a ratchet mechanism operated by thepusher for swinging said arm to enlarge the passage and a switchoperated by the swinging movement of said arm for restoring the solenoidcircuit.

6. In a coin handling mechanism, in combination, a coin unit including amovable arm presenting an oblique edge forming one side of a passage forcoins through the unit, the opposite edge of the passage being straightand presenting vertically spaced contacts to form a seat for a coinlodged between the arm and a contact, a passage clearing member, asolenoid for operating said clearing member, said coin completing acircuit including said solenoid for initiating operation of saidclearing member means associated with the arm and the clearing memberfor moving said arm to enlarge the coin passage to drop the coin andinterrupt said circuit and a solenoid circuit restoring switch actuatedby said arm.

FRANK A. MARCHIONI. MARK E. MARCHIONI.

